MSM’s existing Sony KIX sports channel will be rebranded SONY ESPN and the two companies will launch other new channels in the coming months. Along with SONY SIX, all the channels will deliver a powerful sports lineup to sports fans.

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NP Singh, CEO, Multi Screen Media (MSM):

“Our partnership with ESPN is just what the sports aficionado has been waiting for. Stylised, insightful sports content presented by the best sportscasters in the business. For consumers in India and the subcontinent, sports television viewing will change dramatically since they will soon have access not only to more content but also the widest array of sports lineup, ever available.”ESPN will add to that by delivering more than 1000 hours of programming per year from its portfolio of sports rights, original programming and studio programs. Live sports content in the deal includes major U.S. college football (including the College Football Playoff and comprehensive coverage of the college football bowl season); major U.S. college basketball (including the March Madness NCAA Championship Tournaments); NCAA college sport championships from baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer; Boxing (including Premier Boxing Champions and ESPN’s Big Fights Library); X Games; ESPN Films Emmy-Award Winning 30 For 30 documentaries and more.

MSM’s existing Sony KIX sportschannel will be rebranded asSony ESPN and the twocompanies will launch other newchannels in the coming monthsMulti Screen Media (MSM) andESPN have come together in along-term agreement to servesports fans in India and acrossthe Indian subcontinent.Through the collaboration theywill bring new offerings toIndian sports fans includingnew SONY ESPN sports channelsand anew multisport websiteand app. This collaborationbetween two of the mostrespected brands in Indianmedia and sports will provide apowerful portfolio of sportsrights and the leadingcollection of digital sportsassets in India.MSM’s existing Sony KIX sportschannel will be rebranded SONYESPN and the two companieswill launch other new channelsin the coming months. Alongwith SONY SIX, all the channelswill deliver a powerful sportslineup to sports fans.In collaboration with MSM,ESPN will launch a co-brandedlocalized multisport websiteand app, which will providecoverage of cricket, football,tennis, the NBA, badminton,field hockey and more. MSM’sSONY LIV will also benefit fromthe collaboration, increasingits current sports offeringssignificantly. ESPN cricinfo,the number one digital cricketdestination in India andglobally, will continue todeliver comprehensive coverageand will complement and cross-promote the new digitalproperties and sports channels.Among the new co-brandedmultisport website, sonyliv.comand espncricinfo.com, sportsfan will receive sports contentfrom across categories,geographies and time zones.There will be a robust socialmedia presence for the new co-branded media platforms and, anonline programming guide fortelevision.Components of thecollaboration requireregulatory approvals, for whichthe process is currentlyunderway.NP Singh, CEO, Multi ScreenMedia (MSM), said, “Ourpartnership with ESPN is justwhat the sports aficionado hasbeen waiting for. Stylized,insightful sports contentpresented by the bestsportscasters in the business.For consumers in India and thesubcontinent, sports televisionviewing will changedramatically since they willsoon have access not only tomore content but also thewidest array of sports lineup,ever available.”“MSM’s association with ESPNis holistic and embraces bothtelevision and digital formats.Not only are we about to setthe frontiers in sports contentand distribution but we willmost likely set the trends aswell. Going further, bothcompanies will also explorecollaboration on thedevelopment of other originalsports programs,” he added.Russell Wolff, Executive Vice-president and ManagingDirector, ESPN international,said, “ESPN’s focus around theworld is simple: to serve sportsfans. This exciting, long-termcollaboration between ESPN andMSM will serve Indian sportsfans with exceptional products,content and coverage throughthe combined strengths andexpertise of our twocompanies, which each have astrong heritage of leadershipand innovation in India. We arevery excited to be working withSony, one of the leadingtelevision channels in India, onthe opportunities that lieahead.”MSM’s current sports rightsportfolio in India includes theUEFA Euro 2016, top Europeanfootball leagues (including LaLiga, The FA Cup and Serie A),the NBA, the NFL, the IRBRugby World Cup, UFC, TNAWrestling, NASCAR and more.ESPN will add to that bydelivering more than 1000hours of programming per yearfrom its portfolio of sportsrights, original programmingand studio programs. Livesports content in the dealincludes major U.S. collegefootball (including the CollegeFootball Playoff andcomprehensive coverage of thecollege football bowl season);major U.S. college basketball(including the March MadnessNCAA ChampionshipTournaments); NCAA collegesport championships frombaseball, softball, lacrosse,soccer; Boxing (includingPremier Boxing Champions andESPN’s Big Fights Library); XGames; ESPN Films Emmy-AwardWinning 30 For 30documentaries and more.http://www.exchange4media.mobi/story.aspx?news_id=61936